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Donora approves another application for state funds for Rails-to-Trails study

By Pat Cloonan pcloonan@heraldstandard.Com 4 min read
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Donora Council approved an application for a $100,000 Multimodal Transportation Fund grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development to study the feasibility of a rails-to-trails project in that borough.

Jason White, chief of staff to state Rep. Bud Cook, D-Coal Center, said Donora is an integral part of the whole initiative that would cover 25 miles between Monongahela and Marianna, linking such communities as Donora, Marianna, Bentleyville and Cokeburg with the Great Allegheny Passage.

“You’re a key investment zone,” White said, pointing to maps illustrating the plan and calling the affected communities “areas of high importance for Washington County.”

With an amendment by Councilwoman Dr. Karen Polkabla that makes it “dependent upon approval of funding that would be no cost to the borough,” council also approved a $30,000 cash match for that grant.

Councilman Gilbert P. Szakal Jr. doubted that the borough would get such funds and voted no on the application, the cash match and payment of a $100 fee to accompany that application to DCED. Polkabla also had her doubts.

“We don’t have that kind of money to come up with $30,000,” Polkabla said. “Why doesn’t Carroll Township come up with $6,000? Why doesn’t Monongahela come up with $6,000? Why doesn’t Charleroi come up with $6,000? Why doesn’t Finleyville?”

But White said the borough should not have to pay a penny, and could wind up getting more state money than is needed for the feasibility study, based on the grants Donora already has sought.

Previously, Donora councilors approved an application to DCED for a $50,000 Commonwealth Financial Authority grant, as well as a 50/50 matching grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to establish a trail head at Palmer Park.

Polkabla wound up seconding two of the motions made by Council Finance Chairman John S. Conger.

Voting yes on all three motions were Council President Dennis A. Gutierrez and colleagues Conger (who made all three motions), Marie Trozzo (who seconded the $100,000 application), Polkabla and Dale C. Shawley Jr.

Council Vice President Jimmie B. Coulter was absent.

In other business, council approved two amendments to the borough’s engineering contract with Gannett Fleming providing up to $20,000 apiece for sewer rehabilitation project and catch basin project services, as well as a third providing $5,500 for completion of the borough’s 2018 Sewer Permit Application and $10,500 to complete a Pollution Reduction Plan for the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Borough Administrator John A. Bedner said funding for that amendment will come from the borough’s sewage fund. Council announced Thursday that Bedner has successfully completed his 90-day probationary period and was approved to continue in his new role.

Lucas Gida was hired as a part-time police officer pending verification of his Act 120 certification and a background check.

Twenty used parking meters were sold to the city of Monongahela for $40 each. Conger said the borough has 40 more meters to offer to any community that needs them and can put up a good offer.

Council also voted to vacate Wilson Way between Charles and Weaver avenues.

Mayor Donald E. Pavelko hailed several first responders in his comments Thursday.

“In the early morning hours of May 19, Officers Josh Haines and Mike Perry rushed into a house engulfed in flames on Heslop Avenue to save the life of a man inside,” the mayor said.

Then, Pavelko said, on June 27 various individuals took part in the rescue of a contractor who was electrocuted at the intersection of Kenric Avenue and Bradford Drive, including Officers James Brice and Keith Charlton, Firefighters Mike Petroske, Thomas Fronzaglio, Walter Sloan, Patsy Vince, Gordon Anderson and Don Foster, Rich Cole and Erica Rugg from Allegheny Health Network Medic 940 and Mon Valley EMS personnel Clint Skibo, Jeremy Keenan, John Heffner, Skyler Alexander, Paul Buchko, Bethany Altomore and Dreu Moreland.

“I would like to commend all of these first responders also for a job well done,” the mayor told council.

Other announcements made at the meeting included procedures for receiving yard waste from borough residents at the garage collection site (details of which are on the borough’s website), the borough’s acceptance from Donora residents of televisions and computers for recycling (call 724-379-6600 to schedule an appointment) and a reminder about the Donora Volunteer Fire Co.’s ninth annual “Hunt for Horsepower” car show Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Palmer Park.

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